WellPoint Names New Chief Executive

By

Anna Wilde Mathews And

Jon Kamp

Updated Feb. 13, 2013 11:13 a.m. ET

WellPoint Inc. named Joseph R. Swedish as its new chief executive, unexpectedly turning to a hospital-industry veteran to lead the second-largest U.S. health insurer through the challenging implementation of the health-care overhaul.

Mr. Swedish, 61 years old, will take over as CEO on March 25, the company said. Since 2004, he has been president and CEO of Trinity Health, a Catholic operator of 47 hospitals with revenue of around $9...